Binnacle light



y 16, 1933- T. R. FULTON 1,908,971

BINNACLE LIGHT Filed March 6, 1931 INVENTOR 7/52'0906625/54704 ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1933 THEODORE R. FULTON, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON IBINNACLE LIGHT Application filed March 6, 1931. Serial No. 520,653.

his invention relates to improvements in lamps, and has for its principal object to provide a lamp that is adjustable and arranged so that any desired amount of light may be thrown on a compass.

pass will cover only a small area or just enough so that the figures or points of the compass may be read. If the night is not so dark, and it is not objectionable, the lamp may be so adjust-ed that a ray of light may be thrown over the entire compass.

I accomplish these and other objects by the peculiar arrangement and combination of the parts as will be more fully explained in the following specification, shown in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 shows the side elevation of the lamp.

Figure 2 is a section taken upon the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a compass, showing in dotted lines the areas of light thrown on the face of the compass.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates a bracket upon which the lamp is mounted, the bracket being secured in the pilothouse by any improved means. The upper end of this bracket is provided with an annular head 2 to receive a sliding tube 4. The tube may be clamped in adjusted position by means of a thumb screw 5. In the lower end of tube 4 is mounted a rubber cap 5 formed in its bottom with an aperture 6. Slidably mounted in the tube 4 is a tube 7. The tube 7 may be secured in anysuitable adjusted position in tube 4 by means ofa thumb screw 8. Suspended inside the tubes 4 and 7 is an electric light bulb 9. indicates an electric wire connecting the bulb 9 with a source of current. I

By adjusting the wire 10 in the tubes 4 and '7, the bulb 9 may be raised or lowered to any desired position, as shown by the dotted lines 11 and the full lines 9 in Figure 2 and dotted lines 13 in Figure 1.- 14 indicates a compass located directly under thelamp, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In operation, suppose that the night is very dark and that as little light be thrown on the compass as possible. The tube '4 is brought down low so that the distance between the rubber cap 5 and compass 14 is as little as possible, as shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2, and clamped in this position bythumb screw 5. Next the tube. 7 is raised to its up permost position, as shown in full lines, and clamped in place by thumb screw 8. By so doing, the bulb 9 is raised to the full line position, as shown at 9 in Figure 2. While all parts are in this position, it is apparent that the light on the compass is small, as shown by the rays indicated by dotted lines 15 in. Figures 1 and 2. The small area of the compass illuminated is also shown by the small circle 16 in Figure 3.

If it is desired to make the light on a compass more intense and still keep the area illuminated small, the bulb 9 may be lowered to the position shown at 11 in Figure 2. This will increase the intensity of the light on the compass and only slightly increase the area illuminated, as indicated by the rays of light in dotted lines 17 in Figure 2, and a circle 18 in Figure 3. If it is desired to increase the area illuminated, the tube 4 may be raised to its uppermost position, as shown by the dotted lines 19 in Figures 1 and 2, and the bulb 9 lowered to its dotted position, as shown at 13 in Figure 1. This will increase the area illuminated to a maximum and also give the greatest intensity of light for the size of the area illuminated. The different areas illuminated are represented by dotted lines 20 and 21 inFigure 3.

The object of making the cup 5 of rubber is to prevent damage to the compass during storms as it moves violently upon its gimbal rings.

While I have shown and described a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.v I therefore desire to avoid being limited to the particular form of embodiment which I have hereinabove shown and described. r e

I cla1m:

1. A lamp of the class described compris ing two telescopic members, means for adjusting one of said members in the other of said members, the lower member having a yielding cap applied thereto, said cap having an opening, and a bulb adjust-ably mounted in the telescopic members.

' 2. In a binnacle light adapted for use over a compass, a support, a, tube adjustably mounted on the support abovethe compass, a resilient cap formed 'with an opening and fitted on the lower end of the tube to prevent breaking of the compass should the tube and compass strike, and a source light in the tube. e H

3. A binnacle light adapted for use over a compass comprising a bracket, a tubular member ustably carried lntSitlCl bracket, a second tubular member telescopically carried by the first tubular member, a source of light carried by the second tubular member, said tubular members being vertically positioned above a compass, and a resilientcap formed with an opening and carried on the lower end of the first mentioned tubular member to prevent breaking of the compass should the tube and compass strike during their relative movement caused by the rocking of a ship.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THEODORE R. FULTON 

